The Ins and Outs of a Wage Garnishment

Most people know the general concept of a wage garnishment, ie, a creditor taking money directly from your paycheck each payday. However, how does a creditor get this access? How quickly will it happen if you do not pay your creditors? How can you STOP it? Basically, once you stop paying your creditors, they will begin collection efforts. Phone calls, letters, and after awhile (6 months to a year) they will sue you in the County you reside. When they win, (presumably they will win, since you really do owe the debt), they will have to file another motion to begin the garnishment procedure. Once this motion is granted, they will issue a "Citation to Discover Assets", which is a hearing you are required to attend, to provide information regarding your bank accounts, paycheck, etc. After all these hearings, which can take up to 6 months AFTER the creditor sues you, they will likely get a Judges Order for Wage Garnishment. At this point, they will be entitled to a percentage (usually about 15%) of your gross wages. The guaranteed way to STOP A WAGE GARNISHMENT is to file a bankruptcy. The Automatic Stay that comes into effect upon filing effectively trumps the Judges Order garnishing your wages. There is no other way to stop the garnishment other than paying it off. So, if you are looking to hire an attorney for bankruptcy, DO IT NOW to avoid getting a wage garnishment. Once your wages become garnished, it will be very difficult for you to even pay your month-to-month bills let alone attorney fees for the actual bankruptcy.

Written by: Dean D. Paolucci, Attorney at Law Select Legal, PC P> 800-825-7010 E> Dean@SelectLegal.comwww.SelectLegal.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: This e-mail or other correspondence does NOT create an attorney client relationship. This e-mail or other correspondence represents a general overview of law developments and should not be relied upon without an independent, professional analysis of how any of these provisions may apply to a specific legal situation. Any information contained in this communication was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of legal advice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------